Why your health clinic needs a risk management program

Hospitals and health clinics face multiple risks on a day-to-day basis. Further complicating matters is the sensitive nature of health care work. Lacking an effective risk management program could impact the health and well-being of your employees and residents.

Risk management for patients

The Emergency Care Research Institute and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices compile an annual list of the top 10 patient safety concerns. The list for 2023 includes medication errors, preventable harm due to omitted care or treatment, and consequences of poor care coordination. In addition, patient falls, delays in treatment, and medication management are concerns cited in The Joint Commission’s top sentinel events for 2022.

The good news is that most injuries and deaths that occur in hospitals and health clinics are preventable with proper risk management protocols. While mitigating exposures requires a focused effort, these often-complex issues can be prevented by ensuring appropriate procedures are in place to maintain a high quality of care. Effective hiring and training practices, regular education, and thoughtfully implemented safety policies are all components of a robust risk management program.

Marsh McLennan Agency takes building a complete culture of safety seriously. Our team of health care safety consultants is made up of former clinicians who have knowledge of guidelines laid out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Public Health. This allows us to make thoughtful assessments and recommendations for health care safety strategies for a variety of risks. These include:

• Care coordination including documentation and communication best practices
• Infection prevention and control
• Fall prevention and management programs
• Medication safety
• Incident management

Risk management for employees

Your patients are not the only ones who benefit from implementing a risk management program. Taking care of your workforce means they can provide better overall care. Between the lingering effects of a pandemic and a growing rate of compassion fatigue amongst caregivers, your workforce needs effective support. We can help develop and implement a wide variety of health and wellness programs designed to meet the needs of your staff. We can offer guidance on:

• Ergonomics
• Hiring practices
• Workplace violence prevention

Marsh McLennan Agency’s Health Care Safety Services provides in-depth risk management support for hospitals and health clinics like yours. We’re committed to taking care of you so you can continue to take care of your community. Schedule a consultation today to learn how we can help.